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September 19, 2013

Amazon CARES, the first and only domestic animal charity in Peru's Amazon River Basin, has been named Nonprofit of the Month by Nonprofit Organizations.

Nonprofit Organizations, founded in 2006, is a leading social and mobile media resource for nonprofit professionals. Nonprofit Organizations aims to help nonprofits, charities, and NGOs worldwide utilize the internet as a tool for social good.

Nonprofit Organizations has selected Amazon Community, Animal Rescue, Education, and Safety (CARES) as Nonprofit of the Month for September 2013 because of our unique, and necessary, work.

Amazon CARES has been working in Iquitos, Peru, and surrounding communities, since 2004. Since that time our programs have expanded, helping to improve the lives of domestic animals, humans, and wildlife in Peru's Amazon River Basin. Our programs can be grouped into four categories:

Community

Amazon CARES is rooted in the Peruvian Amazon community with a team of veterinarians, shelter staff, and local and foreign volunteers. By working with local municipalities and using existing resources, we address and solve evolving issues of animal health and welfare more efficiently. We have created a culture of adoption in the region, once thought to be an impossibility.Amazon CARES understands the importance of a partnership with local authorities. In 2012, Amazon CARES and the Bar Association in the province of Loreto, Peru signed an agreement regarding animal welfare. The agreement helps to strengthen and enforce current animal cruelty laws, as well as paving the way for future laws. Also in 2012, Amazon CARES helped to secure a landmark animal cruelty conviction, one of the first in the country.

Animal Rescue

In addition to providing free and low-cost veterinary care to the dogs and cats of Peru's Amazon River Basin, Amazon CARES also operates the area's only no-kill animal shelter. Our free spay and neuter clinics aim to reduce animal overpopulation throughout the region, in turn improving overall animal health. We treat many dogs and cats for both internal and external parasites.

Education

We raise awareness about animal health, public health, and environmental issues through humane education programs for adults and students. Topics of educational talks include responsible pet ownership, the humane treatment of animals, and environmental education that emphasizes the importance of leaving wildlife in its natural habitat.

Safety

Some of the parasites that are common to dogs and cats in Peru can be transmitted to humans. Therefore, Amazon CARES has a comprehensive public health program. We regularly offer anti-parasite medications to pet owners, and during our mobile campaigns we will often work with local public health departments. We promote clean living conditions and regular grooming of pets to help prevent the transmission of pathogens and disease.

Pet overpopulation can lead to feral animal populations as well as an increased spread of disease among animals. Our free spay and neuter programs and other veterinary services help to keep the area's pet population healthy for the animals and the community.

We are honored to be named Nonprofit of the Month by Nonprofit Organizations, and are grateful for the opportunity to spread our cause with a larger online community. You can support Amazon CARES and our invaluable work via Paypal (sponsor@amazoncares.org) or Crowdrise. Even the smallest contribution can go a long way in improving the lives of animals, and humans alike, in Peru.

September 4, 2013

Amazon CARES is best known as the only domestic animal charity in Peru's Amazon region. However, our organization does not limit our work to only domestic animals. We follow and believe in our mission statement:

Amazon Community Animal Rescue, Education, and Safety
(CARES) seeks better health and living conditions for ALL living beings in the
Peruvian Amazon region. This includes appropriate care, respect, and protection
from cruelty and neglect.

We work to improve the lives of not only domestic animals, but also the lives of humans and wildlife. While we regularly work to protect and improve the lives of Peru's wildlife, below are some highlights from the past three years.

Earlier this year a formal complaint was filed by Amazon CARES with the environmental office of the local prosecutor's office regarding the illegal use of endangered wildlife as decoration for a carnival competition. Amazon CARES takes very seriously the protection of wildlife, especially endangered wildlife, and is working to educate communities about protecting wildlife. We work with local legislators to write new laws, in addition to strengthening and enforcing current animal protection laws.

The signed
formal complaint.

Martin

In 2012 Amazon CARES helped to raise funds for Martin, an extremely neglected monkey. It is not uncommon for monkeys to be kept as pets or be kept as an attraction for tourists. They are often kept in cramped cages with little or no room to exercise. The money that CARES helped raise was used to help Martin with a comfortable, long-term home with a responsible caretaker.

In 2010 CARES reported on the rampant illegal wildlife trade that takes place in Iquitos' Belen Market. Illegal wildlife trade is the second largest form of illegal trade in the world, just behind the illegal drug trade. Illegal wildlife trade is harmful economically, socially, and of course environmentally. CARES' humane education programs teach Peruvian children to respect wildlife and discourages the acquisition and sale of wildlife for profit.

Also in 2010, Amazon CARES reported
on Otto, a jaguar, and Kimba, a puma, who were being kept by a pastor
at a church in Iquitos. CARES worked to find the two large cats a more
suitable home, and also used the story of Otto and Kimba to educate
locals about the humane treatment of animals and respecting wildlife.

Kimba

Otto

You can support our wildlife education programs and help to protect Peru's native species by making a small contribution here.